Press Releases

Fact Check of Latest Hartman Attack Ad

Hartman resorts to more untruths

WICHITA, KS – “As recent polls have shown, Wink Hartman’s strategy of attacking opponents is failing,” said Rodger Woods, Pompeo for Congress campaign manager. “It’s unfortunate that rather than returning to a discussion of the issues, Mr. Hartman insists on making increasingly desperate attacks.”

“It is ironic that a man who left dozens of Wichita businesses unpaid after a bankruptcy caused by his own mismanagement would attack Mike Pompeo for successfully leading a business through one of the toughest economic periods in Wichita aviation history,” noted Woods. “Rather than spending hundreds of thousands of dollars attacking Mike Pompeo, perhaps Mr. Hartman should consider paying back the small business owners.”

“As his most recent ad shows, Mr. Hartman is not longer concerning himself with truth. He is even going so far as to make statements directly refuted by his own source,” noted Woods. “His statements are simply not supported by the facts.”

Fact: The validity of this statement has been repeatedly debunked. The July 13th Wichita Eagle Editorial page criticized Hartman for “misusing a Pompeo statement about Wichita’s workforce.” On Sunday July 11th the Wichita Eagle noted that Pompeo “did say those words, but in an unrelated setting…”.

Hartman Statement: “Let’s see what the Wichita Business Journal said about Mike Pompeo’s business record ‘…missed deliveries and slow supplier payments’”

Fact: Wink Hartman attributes this quote to the Wichita Business Journal, when in fact it was a statement of the incoming NexTech CEO who had been on the job approximately 25 days at the time the story was published.

Fact: Hartman commits a lie of omission. The actual quote: “As production rates fell during the aerospace industry downturn in 2001, Thayer found itself struggling to pay vendors and repay loans.” Hartman’s lack of integrity not withstanding, his lack of familiarity with the largest industry in the 4th District is readily apparent, as many in the aircraft industry were struggling in the aftermath of 9/11. Kansas residents are well aware of the post 9/11 economic downturn.

Hartman Statement: When Pompeo was asked about his removal, “he declined to comment about his tenure or his departure.”

Fact: In this instance, Wink Hartman resorts to an outright lie. The article in no way indicates that Pompeo was “removed”. The article does say that “The company, formerly known as Thayer Aerospace was purchased April 2 from co-founders Mike Pompeo and Brian Bulatao by Highland Capital Management LP, a Dallas-based investment management firm.” Pompeo and Bulatao both left the company on good terms.

“Mike is an intelligent, hard-working Kansan who understands business issues critical to economic growth in the 4th District. His knowledge of the relationship between the private sector, limited government and fiscal responsibility — as well as his military service to our country — makes him a well-defined candidate who will bring conservative Kansas values and leadership to Washington.”